Luxury hotels continue to grow in Africa

A recent study by Corporte Traveller has found that South African execs prefer luxury travel experiences when travelling to other parts of the continent. More so, those who make up the upper echelons of business are said to prefer to travel closer to home, opting for countries such Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique, as this affords them convenience.

The continent as a whole, however, continues to grow in luxury accommodation outlets. In the early ’80s, pioneers in the luxury adventure travel marketplace such as Wilderness Safaris in Botswana offered luxury tents nestled in their wildlife camp. Today, travel giants such as the Hilton Worldwide chain are set to increase their hotel offerings in the coming five years from 39 to more than 80 in Africa, with the planned 45-storey Hilton Hotel in Nairobi due for completion in 2020 aimed at being the tallest skyscraper in the region.

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has also announced that the Kivu Belt offers ample investment opportunities for the tourism sector, with key investment initiatives of up to $152 million in value. With tourist sites such as the Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park, Kigali City Tour, Lake Kivu and the Congo Nile Trail, Rwanda stands as a promising tourist destination.

Also expanding its foothold across Africa is the Marriott as the world’s leading hotel brand, with three new outlets planned in Cape Town, over and above the two properties to be launched in Johannesburg’s upmarket Melrose Arch Precinct in 2018.